Suction cleaner



Sept. 8, 1936. B. c. BECKER 2,053,316

SUCTION CLEANER I Original Filed Feb. 6. 193-1 2 Sheets-Sheet I w w I}.w. e 1-: I. M@ J h. v o d v Z W E: v 4 w a g I ,3 6 I. l a 5 I. .3 Q7: JI @V\\% u Y: L MR9.

Sept 8, 193$ B. c BECKER 2,@53,316

SUCTION CLEANER Original Filed Feb. 6, 1931 2 SheetsSheet 2 Ber/747d C.Der/7667" use of as ahand tool.

Patented Sept. I936 UNITED STATES YPAT ENT 'OFFlCE s ii'li' m' m TheHoover Company,

C. Becker,

corporation of Ohio Applicationadapted for .off the floor" Canton, Ohio,assignor to North Cante n, Ohio, a

February a, 1931, Serial No. sums Renewed April 15, 1933 .acmms.(0L15-9) The present invention relates to suction cleaners in generaland particularly to improvements to be embodied in a suction cleanerwhich makes easier the physical alterations necessa y functionally froma unit cleaning to a unit cleaning. The invention comprises specificallya new and novel permanently attached converter member in a suctioncleaner.

The modern suction cleaner adapted to remove foreign matter from asurface covering is,'if properly constructed for the'functlon it is toperform, rather ment which is the modern suction cleaner, tiveness whenused needed inthe cleaning and curtains which are too heavy for the userto make Likewise the agitating ele-- provided within the nozzle of whileof great effeccarpet, is not vide what is known as dusting tools for usewith a suction cleaner which comprise means which may be attached to thesuction created thereby and easily moved aboutby the operator.

consist of an elongated flexible ing tools usually the machine to makeuse of which may be Such dusthose member which is provided with a nozzleat one end and with a connecting member at the 0 other which isadaptedto be secured to the suction cleaner. the-usual suction cleaner of theagitating type it" is necessary, in attaching the dusting tool hosetothe cleaner, to remove a certain member from the eye oi the fan chamber.

where it forms a continuation of the air passage between the nozzlemouth and said chamber, and

to replace that member with a newmember carried'at the end of thedusting operation successfully a. cleaner adaptedlfor a machine adaptedto create dusting tools in through involving bet and the tool hose. Thisconverts the cleaner from "on the floor" cleaning to suction for usewith off the floor cleaning but, the disconnectin of one meniattachingof another, involves a certain amount of manual labor. Itis towards animproved construction in which the effort neces- 'sary to convertcleaning unit to that the present inve In the drawings bodiment of. thepresent and in which the same reference to the same partsthroughout:

Fig. 1 ma side view of a suction the cleaner from one type'of' the otheris materially decreased tion is'directed.

which a preferred eminvention is disclosed characters refer cleanerembody;

I l3, l3 and by the .ing the present invention with certain parts Fig. 1with certain parts broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3- -3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of adetail.

Fig- 5 is a detailed view of the pulley housing. Fig. 6 is a view inperspective of the convertor valve embodied in the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in general, a suction cleaner is disclosedwhich comprises a main casing l which is so constructed as to include anozzle 2, a fan chamber 3 having an inlet 4, and an exhaust outlet 5.Mounted upon the main casing I immediately over the fan chamber 3 is amotor casing 8 which encloses a suitable driving motor for the cleanerwhich is not shown but the shaft 6a. of which projects" through the fanchamber 3, where it carries the suctioncreating fan I, and on throughthe inlet 4 below which a suitable driving pulley 8 is carried which isadapted to convey by means of the belt H), a rotating torque 'to theagitator 9' rotatably mounted within the nozzle 2.. Formed in the casingl and extending from the nozzle mouth, which is defined by the front andrear nozzle lips lla and llb, is. an air passageway which is indicatedgenerally by the reference character I! and which is defined at its topby the top of the nozzle 2 and further along by the fan chamber 3; atits side by the downwardly and rearwardly extending walls l3, l3 whichare formed integrally with the main casing l; tom'by the removablebottom plate l4 which extends rearwardly to of the fan chamber. a

In the usual suction tachable housing or well member serves to completethe air passageway-from the nozzle mouth to the eye 4' of the fanchamber and is usually a detachable open-topped shell, the open forwardside of which coincides with the dimensions of the air passageway as dfined by the side walls and at its bot-' cleaner an ordinary dea thebottom plate l4. The well-mem berpwhich is provided in the cleanerconstructed;

in accordance tinctly resembles the ordinary member used in the commoncleaner construction and is indicated reference character l5. Member I5is detachablyheld in positionbelow the eye 4 of the chamber 3 by meansof projecting lugs l6, it

its side walls which seat on the forward faces of within suitablerecessesforrmad in the rear faces the sidewalls l3 .l3 oftheaiqiassageway II,

with the present invention, dis- 35 the forward edge of the eye 4 whilea spring-pressed detent, indicated generally by the reference characterclamps. the member ii at its rear end. With thewell-member constructedin accordance with the present invention a second passageway orconduitis provided which is defined by an inlet l8 in the rear wall ofthe well-member and which isscontinued beyond the confines of thewell-member, it proper by a tubular member l9 which is provided withsuitable retaining means 20 near its end adapted to secure in place thecleaner endiof the dusting.

' forward of the inlet 4 the outwardly extending ears 25a, 25a servingto prevent tilting or relative movement. The upper wall 25 of housing 2|at its forward end 25 is tilted downwardly and rearwardly from itscontact with the underside of fan chamber 3 immediately forward of.theeye 4 so that. the housing immediately below the eye is of reducedheight, though entirely enclosing the driving pulley 8, and presents butslight. obstruction to the air entering the eye. The upper wall 25 isalso provided with a circular opening 26 which closely encloses thedepending" motor shaft 6a. so as to prevent the passage of anappreciable quantity of air therebetween. Housing 2| in the operation ofthe machine, performs the useful function of substantially removing thedriving pulley 8 and, the driving belt ill, at their point of contact,from the dirt-laden air stream which passes through the cleaner, throughproviding a dead air space thereabout thereby eliminating the foulinghazard usually present.

Pivotally mounted withinthe well-member l5 upon a horizontal axisprovided by the pivotmembers 21,21 carried by the, side walls of themember I5, is a valve 28 which extends the entire width of the member I!being providedwith a cutaway portion, indicated by the referencecharacter 28, to accommodate the pulley-housing 2|. Valve 28 is adaptedto assume, upon beingpivotedby means of handle or actuating lever 30,

which is mounted upon one of the pivot members 21 outside of well l5,one of two positions; In one position valve 28, as shown partially infull .lines in Figure 1, serves to provide a sloping continuation ofbottom plate H to the rear of inlet 4 of,

the fan chamber, while at the same time completely sealing the inlet I8of conduit |8 from said chamber. In the second position, or thatentirely shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the valve is tilted in theopposite direction and has completely closed the air passageway'l2 fromthe inlet 4 through contactingv the underside of the fan chamber 3 atthe sides of the housing 2| near the forward edge of-the upper wall 25,and

has opened to the eye 4 of the fan chamber the inlet |8 of the secondpassageway or conduit l9.

In the operation of the suction cleaner constructed in accordance withthe present invention with a machine adapted for on the iloorr cleaningthe valve 28 is pivoted by the operator.

through the use of the actuating lever 38 to the position shownpartially in full lines in Figure 1.

In that positifin the dirt-laden air entering through the mouth ofzthenozzle 2, as defined by the nozzle lips "Land |,.passes,through the. airpassageway I2 and"; enters the inlet 4 of the fan chamber 3 at the sidesof the pulley housing 2|, being directed upwardly by the curved contourof the valve member 28; substantially no air passing. through thehousing, therebeing no sufiicient:

opening at the rear. thereoL. With the valve in this position the,second passageway leading to the fan chamberentirely closed therefrom asthe valvev 28 has, through cooperating with. the, walls of the member I5and the housing 2|-,.en.-- tirely sealed the. inlet l8 from the inlet 4.If the operator desires to convert the machine for: use withdu'stingtools it is only necessary to tiltthe valve 28 tattle-dottedline position shown in' Figure 1 by pivotingthe actuating lever 30;With. the valve. 28 in the second position the air passageway l2 will beentirely closed. from the fan chamber it being clear that substantiallynov air passes through the housing 2|. It then remains only necessaryfor the operator to attach the: cleaner-end of: the dusting tools to theconduit I! where they'arei retained by the means 20 carried. thereby.

As in the usual cleaner the present is provided with supporting. means33, 33 at its forward end and 34, 34;.at its rear end. Suitable means 3|are also provided, as in the ordinary cleaner, to raise and lower nozzle2 relative to the supporting surface for use with carpets of variousthicknesses, and there is also provideda pivoted handle, in-

covering when used in on the floor" cleaning.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner ofthe vertical axis type,

a casing having, a nozzle, a fan chamber, and an air passagewaytherebetween, a substantially vertical driving shaft extended thru saidfan chamber into said passageway, ,a horizontal rotating agitator insaid nozzle, power-transmission means extending substantially horizontaland I connecting'said shaft to said agitator, a housing in saidpassageway enclosing said shaft and power-transmission means at theirpoint of contact, a conduit open to said fan chamber at the Junction ofsaid passageway therewith, and a plate valve pivoted about a horizontalaxis with-' in said passageway and at said junction and ex tended fromthe sides of'said housing to the sides of said passageway, and means tomanually pivot said valve to selectively seal said passageway or saidconduit from said fan chamber.

2. In a suction cleaner of the vertical axis type, a casing having anozzle, a fan chamber and an air passageway therebetween, asubstantially ver-, tical driving. shaft extended thru said fan chamberinto said passageway, a horizontal rotating agitator in said nozzle,power-transmission means extending'substantially horizontal andconnectng said shaft to said agitator, an elongated housing mounted insaid passageway and enclosing said shaft and power-transmission means attheir point of contact, a conduit open to said fan chamber atthejunction of said passageway therewith, and single valve means at saidjunction pivoted about a horizontal axis and extend-- ed transverselyfrom the sides of said passageway to the sides of said housing toselectively seal said passageway or said conduit from said fan chamber,and manually operable means to actuate said valve.

3. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a nozzle, a fan chamber, and anair passageway therebetween, a valve chamber at the end of said pas-rsageway which opens at its top to said fan chamber, a dusting toolconduit open to said fan chamber at said valve chamber, the openings ofsaid passageway and said conduit being spaced in the sides of said valvechamber, a drive shaft extending from said fan chamber into said valvechamber, a driven belt extending from said shaft through said passagewayto said nozzle, a rotatable agitator in said nozzle driven by said belt,a housing in said valve chamber enclosing said belt and said shaft atits connection therewith, a valve extended across said valve chamber andpivoted upon an axis between the openings of said passageway and saidconduit and.

shaped to accommodate said housing, said valve being shapedto'simultaneously contact the top ofsaid valve chamber adjacent saidpassageway and the bottom of said valve chamber ad-,

jacent said conduit, and vice versa, and means to manually control theposition of said valve to. selectively connect said passageway or saidconduit to said fan chamber.

fan chamber into said passageway, a rotating agitator in said nozzle,power-transmission means connecting said shaft to said agitator, ahousing in said passageway enclosing said shaft and power-transmissionmeans at their point of contact, a conduit open to said fan chamber atthe junction of said passageway therewith, and a plate valve pivotedcentrally of itself within said passageway at said junction and extendedrom the sides of said housing to the sides of said passageway said valvebeing of such size that it can be pivoted to contact opposite sides ofthe opening into said fan chamber, and means to manually pivot saidvalve to selectively seal said passageway or-said conduit from said fanchamber. l

5. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a nozzle, a fan chamber, and anair passageway therebetween, a valve chamber'at the end of saidpassageway which opens into said fan chamber, a

dusting tool conduit open to said fan chamber at said valve chamber, theopenings of said passageway and said conduit being spaced in the sidesof, said valve chamber, a drive shaft extending from said fanchamberinto said valve chambe a driven belt extending from said shaft throughsaid passageway to said nozzle, a rotatable agitator in said nozzledriven by said belt, a housing in said valve chamber enclosing said beltand said shaft at its connection therewith, a valve extended across saidvalve chamber and pivoted upon an axis between the openings of saidpassageway and said conduits and shaped to accommodate said housing,said valve being shaped to simultaneously contact theside of said'valvechamber adjacent said passageway and the oppositeside of said valvechamber adjacent said conduit, and vice versa, and

means to manually control the position of saidvalve .to selectivelyconnect said passageway or said conduit to said fan chamber. 6. In anaccessory for a, suction cleaner of the type including a fan chamberhaving an inlet, a

nozzle spaced from said inlet, and a passageway connecting said nozzleto a point adjacent the inlet of said fan chamber, there being a motordrive shaft extended through-said chamber and therebelow, apower-transmitting belt connected to said shaft and extended into saidpassageway,

and a narrow housing open to said passageway and extending rearwardlyunder said inlet and enclosing the end of said shaft andsaid beltadjacent thereto; a removable casing shaped to conform to the end ofsaid passageway and to form 'a, continuation thereof to direct air tosaid inlet,

said casingenclosing said housing, a conduit in said casing spaced fromsaid passageway, and a valve carried solely by said casing being pivotedat the sides of said housing upon an axis between said conduit and saidpassageway, the axis of said valve being positioned between said fanchamber inlet and the casing wall opposite thereto, said valve beingshaped to extend across said casing to close said passageway or saidconduit from said inlet, and manually operable means carried by saidcasing to position said valve.

7. In an accessory for a suction cleaner of the type including a fanchamber having an inlet, a driving shaft extended thru said fan chamberand inlet, a fan on said shaft in said chamber, a nozzle spaced fromsaid inlet, agitating means in said nozzle, a passageway connecting saidnozzle to a point adjacent the inlet-of said fan chamber, a powertransmission belt extended thru said passageway and connecting saidagitating means to said shaft, and a belt housingopening toward saidpassageway proper and having an opening opposite said-inlet thru whichsaid shaft extends; a casing shaped to conform to the ends of saidpassageway and to form a continuation thereof to direct air to saidinlet, a conduit in said casing spaced from the point of contact withthe end of 'saidpassageway proper, a valve carried solely- 8. Anaccessory for a suction cleaner of the type including a nozzle, a fanchamber, an air passageway from said nozzle to said fan chamber endingshort thereof, a drive shaft extended from said fan chamber through theeye thereof, means connected tosaid shaft and extended through saidpassageway to said nozzle and into operative relationship with anagitator therein; comprising a removable housing memberfconnecting saidable valve positioned in and mounted solely on said housing, said valvebeing movable to seal said passageway or said conduit from said fanchamber.

BERNARD .C. BECKER.

, passageway to said fan chamber and formed with a conduit openinginteriorly thereto, and a rotat-

